'The Quest' by Nelson DeMille follows the journey of two journalists and a photographer in war-torn Ethiopia during the civil war. They come across a dying priest who reveals the location of the Holy Grail, leading them on a quest to find this ancient relic. The story involves violence, danger, and a mix of adventure and mystery as the characters face challenges and threats while seeking the Holy Grail.

The plot of 'The Quest' is set in the 1970s and revolves around the search for the Holy Grail in Ethiopia. includes vivid descriptions of the Ethiopian civil war, the characters' quest, and their encounters with various factions in the conflict. The writing style is detailed and descriptive, providing insight into the characters' motivations, the historical context, and the challenges they face on their journey.

Characters:

The characters are depicted as flawed and shallow, with complex relationships, particularly a love triangle that drives parts of the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is descriptive but uneven, varying between engaging storytelling and excessive detail, leading to slow pacing at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around three journalists seeking the Holy Grail during the Ethiopian revolution, combining adventure with romance and historical context.

Setting:

The setting is primarily in 1970s Ethiopia during the civil war, with some segments taking place in Rome.

Pacing:

The pacing is inconsistent, with a strong start and finish, but a dragging middle section that detracts from overall engagement.

The elderly Italian priest crouched in the corner of his cell and covered himself with his straw pallet. Outside, screaming artillery shells exploded into the soft African earth, and shrapnel splatter...

Notes:

The Quest is set during the Ethiopian revolution in the early 1970s.

It follows three journalists looking for the Holy Grail after meeting a dying priest.

The main characters are Frank Purcell, Henry Mercado, and Vivian Smith, who are involved in a love triangle.

Frank and Henry are experienced war correspondents, while Vivian is a young photographer on her first assignment.

The dying priest, Father Giuseppe Armano, narrates his 40-year imprisonment and quest for the Holy Grail.

The story intertwines themes of war, romance, and the search for a mythical relic.

Characters endure graphic violence during their time covering the Ethiopian civil war.

This book was originally written in the 1970s but was not published until 2013 after significant rewrites.

Some readers compared the adventure theme of the book to Indiana Jones movies and noted its similarities to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The novel explores complex themes, including faith and betrayal, against a backdrop of historical events.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for The Quest include graphic violence, depictions of war and torture, and themes of captivity, which may be distressing to some readers.

Has Romance?

The book features a medium level of romance, particularly in the love triangle involving the main characters, but the primary focus remains on the adventure and quest.

From The Publisher:

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

In 2013, I rewrote The Quest and doubled its length, making it, I hope, a far better story than the original, without deviating from the elements that made the story so powerful and compelling when I first wrote it. In other words, what made The Quest worth rewriting remains, and whatever is changed is for the better.

I was happy and excited to have this opportunity to rewrite and republish what I consider my first "big" novel, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when I first wrote it.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A sweeping adventure that's equal parts thriller and love story, Nelson DeMille's newest novel takes the reader from the war torn jungles of Ethiopia to the magical city of Rome.

While the Ethiopian Civil War rages, a Catholic priest languishes in prison. Forty years have passed since he last saw daylight. His crime? Claiming to know the true location of Christ's cup from the Last Supper. Then the miraculous happens - a mortar strikes the prison and he is free!

Old, frail, and injured, he escapes to the jungle, where he encounters two Western journalists and a beautiful freelance photographer taking refuge from the carnage. As they tend to his wounds, he relates his incredible story.

Motivated by the sensational tale and their desire to find the location of the holiest of relics, the trio agrees to search for the Grail.

Thus begins an impossible quest that will pit them against murderous tribes, deadly assassins, fanatical monks, and the passions of their own hearts.

THE QUEST is suspenseful, romantic, and filled with heart-pounding action. Nelson DeMille is at the top of his game as he masterfully interprets one of history's greatest mysteries.

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The Quest

Nelson DeMille